FREE KCSE PAST PAPERS 2018: COMPUTER STUDIES FORM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

​FREE KCSE PAST PAPERS 2018: COMPUTER STUDIES FORM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

This category comprises of KCSE 2018 computer studies questions and answers for form that featured in that year.

Question 1

Topic: Introduction to computers (Classification of Computers)

State two reasons for the increased use of laptop computers in government offices. (2 marks)

• They are small and fit in a small storage space.
• They are light weight hence can be carried to areas where their services are required.
• The monitor, system unit, keyboard units are attached together hence making its use to be convenient.
• Rechargeable / backup battery.

Marking Tips:

• Any of these or correct answer had 1 mark each.
• Any of the two correct answers regardless of the arrangement scored 2 marks.

Question 2

Computer network technicians prefer to use command-line based operating system when configuring networks. State three reasons for the preference. (3 marks)

Topic: The Operating System (HCI - Human Computer Interface)

• ​They do not take up a lot of memory hence boot faster than the GUI OS.
• They have direct access or most hardware devices.
• They are cheaper to acquire as some can be downloaded free of charge.
• They can run on lower —bit hardware systems such as 32-bit computers.

Marking Tips:

• Any of these or correct answer had 1 mark each.
• Any of the three correct answers regardless of the arrangement scored 3 marks.

Question 3

State three measures that should be put in place in a computer laboratory to safeguard users’ health. (3 marks)

Topic: Introduction to Computers (The Computer Laboratory)

• All power cables must be insulated and hidden from users.
• The furniture used must be of standard computer furniture.
• The room should be lit with adequate lighting.
• The room must be ventilated.
• Computer monitor should be fitted with antiglare to filter excess light rays emanating from the monitor.
• Avoid slippery floors/cemented floors.
• Controlling dust.

Marking Tips:

• Any of these or correct answer had 1 mark each.
• Any of the three correct answers regardless of the arrangement scored 3 marks.

Question 4

State three ways in which barcode readers may be used in schools. (3 marks)

Topic: The Computer System (Hardware/Input Devices)

1. To take inventory of items in the school.
2. To keep track of employee login log out.
3. Used to transact business in the library.
4. Used to keep track of movement of goods.

Marking Tips:

• Any of these or correct answer had 1 mark each.
• Any of the three correct answers regardless of the arrangement scored 3 marks.

Question 5

State three advantage of flat panel monitors over cathode ray tube monitors as used in computers. (3 marks)

Topic: The Computer System (Hardware/Output Devices)

1. They are compact and light weight;
2. They consume less power;
3. They do not suffer from geometrical distortions;
4. They do not cause eye fatigue.
5. They support many advanced technologies;
6. They can be made in almost any size and shape;
7. They support higher resolution.
8. Low heat radiation.

Marking Tips:

• Any of these or correct answer had 1 mark each.
• Any of the three correct answers regardless of the arrangement scored 3 marks.

Question 6

State three possible reasons for the extinction of daisy wheel printers in the market. (3 marks)

Topic: The Computer System (Hardware/Output Devices)

• ​They supported one font size and font face;
• They were monochrome printers;
• They produced noise while printing;
• They were very slow;
• Did not print graphics.
• Had poor print quality.

Marking Tips:

• Any of these or correct answer had 1 mark each.
• Any of the three correct answers regardless of the arrangement scored 3 marks.

Question 7

State three ways in which an operating system secures a computer system. (3 mark)

Topic: The Operating System (Functions of the Operating System)

• Access controls: Authentication of users in order to access files;
• Performing regular patches of updates;
• Creating secure accounts with required privileges;
• Scrutinizing all incoming and outgoing packets of data through a firewall;
• Encryption of data, during the transmission stage;
• Password / biometric analysis;
• Log files to detect any breach.

Marking Tips:

• Any of these or correct answer had 1 mark each.
• Any of the three correct answers regardless of the arrangement scored 3 marks.

Question 8

A law firm prefers to use hard copy output over soft copy output when handling documents for legal matters. State two reasons for this preference. (2 marks)

Topic: The Computer System (Hardware/Output Devices)

• ​They are acceptable as exhibit in cases of litigation.
• Can be used without a computer.
• They are difficult to change without leaving any trace.
• They can be used without power.
• They can be used without the experience of computer usage.

Marking Tips:

• Any of these or correct answer had 1 mark each.
• Any of the two correct answers regardless of the arrangement scored 2 marks.

Question 11

Distinguish between real-time operating system and distributed operating system. (3 marks)

Topic: The Operating System (Types of the Operating System) also check relevance in form 3 under  Data processing (electronic data processing modes)

• Real-time OS reads information from input devices and must respond within a short duration of time to ensure correct performance.
• Distributed OS distributes computation among several physical processors which do not share memory or clock.

Marking Tips:

• Three marks for clear differences between real-time and distributed OS

Analysis of form 1 questions in kcse 2018 computer studies paper 1

---

Weight of form 1 marks vs total marks in KCSE 2018 computer studies paper 1

• 25 marks were carried from form 1 representing 25% of all paper 1 marks

How marks were distributed across all form 1 topics

---

There are only three topics in form 1. Namely:

1. Introduction to Computers - 5 marks
2. The Computer System - 11 marks
3. The Operating System - 9 marks

Advice to Users

Put more emphasis on those topics that carried bulky marks especially I/O devices under the computer system topic.

Previous Content >>

Next >>